School Improvement

SI Weekly Update: 27 October 2025

Cost of school uniforms
Updated guidance, which now includes draft statutory guidance relating to the proposed limit on the number of branded items of school uniform and PE kit that schools can require

Focus on reading in secondary years to drive up standards
Education Secretary confirms all pupils will sit a mandatory reading test at age 13 to drive up reading standards.

OFSTED Webinar Recording available on YouTube - Renewed inspection framework: all state-funded primary schools. You can find it here.

Early Excellence Podcast on SEND
The latest Head-to-Head Podcast episode with Helen Mohatta, which places SEND under the spotlight

Primary assessments: future dates
Added assessment dates for the academic year 2027 to 2028.

Martyn’s Law for education settings
Information about the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and how it will affect early years and education settings.

Change made:
Removed references to capacity – security tiers now reference the expected number of people (staff and learners) in attendance. Clarified that settings with under 200 people are exempt but encouraged to plan. Reiterated that this is a policy paper – formal guidance will follow before the 2027 implementation.

Pupil attendance in schools
Pupil attendance in schools’ statistics updated to include data covering the period 1 September to 10 October 2025.

Secondary accountability measures (including Progress 8 and Attainment 8)
Page summary:
Information for schools about secondary school accountability measures, including Progress 8 and Attainment 8.

Change made:
Added ‘Secondary accountability measures: 2025 guidance for maintained secondary schools, academies and free schools’.

Statistics: destinations of key stage 4 and 5 students
Page summary:
Data on key stage 4 (KS4) and 16 to 18 (KS5) students going into apprenticeship, education and employment destinations.

Change made:
Added ‘Destinations of key stage 4 and 5 students: 2024’.

Key stage 4 performance 2025
Statistics on the achievements of young people at the end of key stage 4 in England, in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

Secondary school performance data in England: 2024 to 2025
The achievements of pupils at key stage 4 in England at school level and local authority area.

Education Secretary speech at CST Conference
In her speech, Bridget Phillipson set out core tenets of the upcoming schools white paper, which will lay the path for national renewal for schools.

Martyn Oliver's speech to the Confederation of School Trusts
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, spoke at the Confederation of School Trusts 2025 annual conference in Birmingham.

SI Weekly Update: 13 October 2025

Phonics screening check attainment: England 2025
Provisional information including breakdowns by pupil characteristics, school characteristics, region and local authority.

Disadvantaged Pupils see drop in phonics results

PE and sport premium: conditions of grant 2025 to 2026

Allocations for academic year 2025 to 2026 and the terms and conditions that local authorities, maintained schools and academies must follow.

Pupil attendance in schools
Pupil attendance in schools statistics updated to include data covering the period 1 September to 26 September 2025.

EARLY EXCELLENCE - Read our Latest Blog: Fine Motor Skills in Early Childhood – Packed with research-backed insights into why these skills matter and providing practical ways to support them

Sir Martyn Oliver thanks education leaders for their commitment to children and young people
In an open letter, Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver thanks education leaders across England.

SI Weekly Update: 06 October 2025

Primary assessments: future dates
This page summarises future assessment dates in primary schools, to assist schools with their forward planning. Added the detailed timetable for the key stage 2 tests in 2026. Added the 2 new downloadable calendars with important dates for keystage 1 and key stage 2 assessments in the academic year 2025 to 2026.

Ofsted updates

Ofsted confirms changes to education inspection and unveils new-look report cards - Published press release setting out a renewed approach to education inspection that will give parents better and more detailed information, is fairer on professionals, and will help raise standards for all children.
Ofsted’s renewed education inspection framework: main changes - A short video in which Sir Martyn Oliver (His Majesty’s Chief Inspector) introduces Ofsted’s new inspection programme.
New Ofsted report cards - Short video in which Sir Martyn Oliver introduces the new report cards which will replace our current reports for education inspections.
School inspection: toolkit, operating guide and information - Published guidance for inspectors and schools on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the renewed education inspection framework.
Ofsted: new school report card - A short video showcasing an example of the new Ofsted report card for schools inspections

Ofsted education inspection framework: state-funded primary schools - Video of a webinar explaining how we will carry out inspections of state-funded primary schools under the renewed inspection framework.

Martyn Oliver's speech at the Childcare and Education Expo
Sir Martyn Oliver, Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, spoke at the 2025 Childcare and Education Expo in Coventry.

Free breakfast clubs for half a million extra children next year
Thousands more families will soon benefit from free breakfast clubs as the government confirms plans for 2,000 new schools to join the scheme from April 2026.

SI Weekly Update: 29 September 2025

Education inspection framework: engagement programme

Change made:
Ofsted have added a new webinar date for ‘Nurseries, pre-schools and other registered early years settings’.

Pupil premium: allocations and conditions of grant 2025 to 2026

Published allocations and conditions of grant for the 2025 to 2026 financial year.

Pupil attendance in schools

Pupil attendance in schools statistics updated to include data covering the period 1 September to 12 September 2025..

Rosary Challenge with Archbishop John Wilson

Pray the Rosary online with Archbishop John Wilson and The Mark 10 Mission this October.

https://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/news/the-mark-10-mission-rosary-challenge-with-archbishop-john-wilson

RISE Resources:

Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE): school support - GOV.UK

Regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) - GOV.UK

RISE school improvement resources: South East - GOV.UK

RISE support for inclusive mainstream education - GOV.UK

RISE support for improving attainment in schools - GOV.UK

RISE support for improving attendance in schools - GOV.UK

CPD Resources:

Free Webinar - Commission for Promoting Racial & Cultural Inclusion

SI Weekly Update: 22 September 2025

Primary Assessment

Information: accessing the National Curriculum Assessments Portal

The new National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal), which replaces the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG) from the 2025 to 2026 test cycle onwards, will officially go live on Tuesday 23 September.

On Monday 22 September, ahead of the launch, Pearson will email instructions on how to access the NCA Portal to:

all primary school users who were previously registered on the PAG

The email will include a secure link to activate your account and create your password.

To help protect pupil data, all accounts will use multi-factor authentication. This will require you to enter a 6-digit verification code, which will also be sent to your email address.

You can find more information and support in the new guidance on how to access the NCA Portal.
If you need any further assistance, please contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk.

Publication: updated parent information leaflets for all assessments in the academic year 2025 to 2026

On Monday 15 September, the STA updated all outstanding parent information leaflets for assessments in the academic year 2025 to 2026.

Information for parents is available to read online or to download as a PDF leaflet, and explains:

what parents need to know
what each assessment involves
when tests will take place
how results will be shared and used

You can find all leaflets in their collection of national curriculum assessments information for parents, covering the:

RBA
phonics screening check
optional KS1 national curriculum tests
multiplication tables check (MTC)
KS2 national curriculum tests, results and teacher assessment
pre-key stage standards
engagement model

We encourage you to share this information with parents and carers of pupils who are participating in the assessments this academic year.

Publication: updated early years foundation stage profile handbook

On Tuesday 9 September, the Department for Education updated the early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) handbook.

The handbook provides support for teachers completing the EYFSP assessments in line with statutory requirements.

The latest changes to the handbook include clarifications on the guidance and reflect new uses of the EYFSP data.

Reminder: administer the reception baseline assessment

Schools must administer the RBA to all eligible pupils in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.

The Baseline e-Portal has now closed. School staff involved in the administration of the RBA should now use DfE Sign-in to access the:

Assessment service: start an assessment
Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments

You should use the 'Assessment service: start an assessment' to:

complete training
familiarise yourself with the assessment content*
ensure your devices can connect successfully
access modified guidance
manage accessibility settings
start an assessment

You can preview the assessment questions within the ‘Familiarise yourself with the assessment’ section, but you must not use a pupil’s assessment to preview them.

Please also note that the practice questions within the pupil’s assessment are intended for you to use with the pupil.

You should use the ‘Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments’ to:

register pupils
record reasons for pupils not taking the assessment
complete the headteacher’s declaration form (HDF)
view and download narrative statements

All pupils must be uploaded to the service. If your headteacher decides a pupil should not take the assessment, you must provide a reason and update the pupil’s status.

For more information:

watch the video on managing pupils and administering assessments
refer to the full collection of RBA guidance
in case of technical issues, try the troubleshooting steps in the updated RBA IT guidance
get further support in the RBA help centre

Education inspection framework: engagement programme
Details of Ofsted’s programme of webinars to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes. Ofsted released the date for the additional ‘State-funded secondary schools’ webinar.

Education Secretary speech at National Parent Survey launch

A speech delivered by the Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, at an event hosted by The Times and ParentKind to launch the charity’s annual report.

'Expectations' on parent engagement coming in white paper

SI Weekly Update: 15 September 2025

Ofsted confirms changes to education inspection and unveils new-look report cards
Ofsted has set out a renewed approach to education inspection.

Education inspection framework (EIF)
This framework sets out Ofsted’s inspection principles and the grades that inspectors give. The renewed education inspection framework has been published and will replace the current framework from November 2025.

School inspection: toolkit, operating guide and information
Guidance for inspectors and schools on inspecting maintained schools and academies in England under the renewed education inspection framework, available for use from 10 November 2025.

Ofsted report cards: the 8 big changes you need to know

Ofsted report cards revealed: Fewer judgements, renamed grades

Education inspection framework: engagement programme
Details of Ofsted’s programme of webinars to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes.

Key stage 2 attainment (provisional): 2025
Provisional results for the 2025 national curriculum assessments at key stage 2.

Early years foundation stage profile handbook
Updated ‘Early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) handbook’ to clarify guidance and reflect new uses of the EYFSP data.

Early years foundation stage: exemplification materials
To support teachers in making early years foundation stage profile (EYFSP) judgements. Updated the ‘supporting information’ for the early years foundation stage (EYFS) case study videos.

Giving every child the best start in life
The government’s strategy for improving child development and meeting the ambition that 75% of 5-year-olds in England have a good level of development by 2028.

Education Secretary speech at launch of The Children's PlanSpeech delivered by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at an event to launch the Children’s Commissioner’s Children’s Plan in London.

Bridget Phillipson speech to TUC conference, 2025
Speech delivered by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson at the Trades Union Congress annual conference in Brighton, 2025

FFT BLOG: Is the start of term critical for tackling persistent absence?

SI Weekly Update: 08 September 2025

08 September 2025:

PRIMARY SCHOOLS

ACTION: complete the KS2 September checking exercise from Monday 08 September

The 2025 KS2 Sep

tember checking exercise will open on Monday 08 September and close at 5pm on Friday 19 September.

During the checking exercise, schools will be able to check their data for the academic year 2024 to 2025 and, if necessary, submit requests to remove pupils, subject to specified criteria.

You can find more information and guidance in the Check Your Performance Measures Data (CYPMD) Help Centre.

KS2 SATs marking and clerical review outcomes will be available on Wednesday 10 September
Marking and clerical review outcomes for the 2025 test cycle, will be available on the PAG on Wednesday 10 September.

In the ‘Completed activity’ section, schools with review outcomes will find a:

letter confirming the outcome of their review applications
notification of changes sheet
marking review report for each subject, per pupil, where a marking review was requested

In the ‘Available activity’ section, schools will be able to access the reviewed test scripts using the ‘View and download KS2 test results’ form. This will show the review marks for each pupil, including those where pupil results have been amended as a result of a review.

Outcomes of marking and clerical reviews will not be included in the September checking exercise, but will be reflected in the revised school-level data published in December.

Reminder: download your 2025 multiplication tables check results by Friday 26 September

Pupils’ 2025 MTC results are still available to view and download in the ‘View pupil results’ section of the MTC service until Friday 26 September.

After this date, the MTC service will close. It will reopen on Monday 27 April 2026.

Schools can download a common transfer file (CTF) containing their MTC results and upload this into their management information system (MIS).

Complete the PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return
The DfE are aware that some primary schools experienced issues accessing the PE and sport premium expenditure reporting return. The closing date has been extended to Tuesday 30 September 2025.

EARLY YEARS

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework
The standards that school and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5. Change made: Added link to ‘Early years employment reference template’.

The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Nutrition Guidance, effective from September 2025, is a statutory requirement for early years providers in England, mandating healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals, snacks, and drinks.

Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding Reforms
From September 2025 Early Years Foundation Stage Safeguarding Reforms come into place: Summary of changes.

How Ofsted look at the use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) in their inspections of early years settings.
School leaders need to be aware of the pupil who are in receipt of the EYPP and be able to explain how the funding is used to support pupils’ learning and development.
How we look at the use of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) in our inspections of early years settings – Ofsted: early years

The EEF guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium
Early Years Pupil Premium | EEF

The EEF Early Years Toolkit – evidence and resources for Early Years educators
Early Years | EEF

Action: administer the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)
Schools must administer the RBA to all eligible pupils in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception. The Baseline e-Portal has now closed. School staff involved in the administration of the RBA should now use DfE Sign-in to access the:

Assessment service: start an assessment
Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments

You should use the 'Assessment service: start an assessment' to:

complete training
familiarise yourself with the assessment content
ensure your devices can connect successfully
access modified guidance
manage accessibility settings
start an assessment

You should use the ‘Assessment service: manage your school’s assessments’ to:

register pupils
record reasons for pupils not taking the assessment
complete the headteacher’s declaration form (HDF)
view and download narrative statements

All pupils must be uploaded to the service. If you decide that a pupil should not take the assessment, you must provide a reason and update the pupil status.

For more information:

watch the new video on managing pupils and administering assessments
refer to the full collection of RBA guidance
get further support in the RBA help centre

The WRITING FRAMEWORK

Guidance on how to teach writing published 8 July 2025

The DfE has published evidence-based guidance for all primary school leaders and teaching staff, giving simple, practical advice about how to teach writing in reception, key stage 1, and key stage 2.

Schools should read the writing framework and, during academic year 2025 to 2026, use the audits to evaluate and plan improvements.

Actions:

access the writing framework
sign up to the writing framework information webinar for leaders taking place Tuesday 30 September 2025, at 4pm to 5pm

OFSTED

Education inspection framework: engagement programme
Details of Ofsted’s programme of webinars to help familiarise providers with the November 2025 education inspection framework changes. A date for an additional webinar for ‘State-funded primary schools’ has been added on Thursday 2 October 2025: 4pm to 5pm

Ofsted sets out measures to ensure steady and assured start to inspections under the renewed framework
Ofsted has announced several measures to reassure education providers about the November roll-out of inspections under the renewed inspection framework.

SAFEGUARDING

Keeping children safe in education
The September 2025 version of the keeping children safe in education guidance is now in force, replacing previous versions.

Martyn’s law for education settings
How educational settings can prepare for the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 and protect their children and young people.

RSHE

Review of the RSHE statutory guidance.
This report presents an analysis of responses received, along with the government’s response and the next steps.

Revised guidance has been published on ‘Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education’ for introduction on 1 September 2026.

The new National Curriculum Assessment Portal (NCA Portal) - upcoming changes for the 2025 to 2026 academic year

From this academic year onwards, Pearson will provide the Test Operations Service, supporting national curriculum assessments on behalf of the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).

The new National Curriculum Assessment Portal (NCA Portal) goes live on Monday 22 September for all school users. If your contact details were correct on the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG), you will receive access information on how to access the NCA Portal. This email will include a secure link to activate your account and create your password.

There are some new changes on the NCA Portal including:

the merging of the attendance register and aid notification into a single online-only process
a streamlined headteacher declaration form (HDF) that can be completed once you've submitted your attendance register

You can find more information and support accessing the NCA Portal in the Test Operations Service provider guidance for schools.

If you need any further assistance, please contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk